"Quick, the weigh ins are gonna start any minute!" said Spike. The girls, Spike and Big McIntosh had been gallivanting around Las Pegasus having as much fund as their unlimited budget and limited time would allow, Spike and the girls hitting the arcades, while Big McIntosh used his patience from working the farm to work the poker tables, always making sure to mosey on out before the eyes watching the casino floors burned his massive build, Hawaiian print shirt and cut off jeans too deeply into their memories.
"After all," Thought Big McIntosh, "Pa always said you gotta know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em" As they rushed into the room, Big McIntosh asked the girls, "Y'all ready for this?" The girls shot him a nod, and he turned on the TV, the graphics package for the big fight greeting them as a booming voice said, "Good evening, folks! Gold Mike, here, with my commentary partner in crime, the undefeated Super Middleweight World Champ, Hoshikawa. How're you doing there, partner?"
Hoshikawa stood near the scale, dressed in her spiffiest black jeans and fitted, red, EBO branded t-shirt with a mic in her hand. "I'm actually overwhelmed by how much buzz this event's seen on Social Media. I always knew it would be hype, but after that press conference, Whinny's been blowing up my phone with how many Whinny-ers are Whinnying and Re-Whinnying about it. Oh geez, I sound like those kids at the local coffee shop, don't I? Anyways to kick this off, let's welcome one of the people responsible for this fresh wave of frenzied attention: Applejack!"
Applejack stepped on stage, decked in white and red sneakers, red with orange trim boxing trunks and a red, Sweet Apple Acres branded t-shirt, waving to the crowd as she stripped down to her orange sports bra and boxing trunks. They carefully tipped the weights on the old school scale, Hoshikawa finally announcing she was "127!" Applejack flexed for the cameras and stepped towards the commissioner on the other side, shaking his hand as she awaited her opponent's appearance.
Not a moment later, Hoshikawa bellowed out, "Aaaand her opponent, Twilight Sparkle!" Twilight stepped out in dark indigo shoes, well worn jeans and a purple hoodie with the words "Team Twily" stitched across the chest. "I do wish my BBBFF and Cadance chose something ELSE to put on there" thought Twilight. "I mean, seriously, I'm about to fight for a record setting crowd, and they want the world to see "Team Twily"? I kind of hope Celestia, Luna or someone is gonna smite me where I stand" As Twilight zipped out of her hoodie, Applejack's sap green eyes grew wide as she took in Twilight's chiseled abs and highly toned arms, noticing that 'Team Twily' was also printed across her purple sports bra.
"Well I'll be a monkey's uncle," Thought Applejack. "Maybe she and I can have some serious fun in the squared circle" Soon enough, she, too, was weighed, Hoshikawa announcing she was also "127! Right on the mark!" Twilight, after her flex, got back in her clothes and went to shake the commissioner's hand, she and Applejack squaring up for the cameras, then getting in each other's face as they uttered words the mics couldn't catch, their expressions intense and focused right on the other in front of them. "Looks like the commissioner's got his hands full." said Big McIntosh, noting how Palomino was struggling to split the girls up.
"I know you're slightly biased, as am I," said Spike. "But what do you think's gonna happen tomorrow night?"
"Both of 'em got no ounce of quit in 'em, so if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's this: one of 'em won't be leavin' that ring under their own power. I'd bet my winnin's on that, if that were possible."
"By not leaving under their own power, do you mean...no way. A knockout? Applejack, I can understand, but you think Twilight has that in her, too?"
"You've been at her side all these months, haven't ya? You've seen the way her body's transformed, thanks to that Dynamite Strength stuff she's been through. I still think my sister's got a big edge, but I've watched enough boxin' to know that you always gotta expect the unexpected. In 24 hours, that's what I want y'all to do, too. What fun would boxin' be if the outcome were written in stone?"
***
The next night, they were once again in front of the TV, tuned in to the biggest boxing event of the year, getting there just in time to see the introduction of the Tale of the Tape by Gold Mike. "While Applejack is 23, and giving up 4 years of youth to Twilight, she, at 5'10, also has a 4 inch height advantage and 2 inches of reach on her, with those 26 inches cannons hanging off of each shoulder. To enlighten you on the rules these two first timers will face, I'll turn it over to Hoshikawa. Partner?"
"This is set for 10 rounds under the Equestrian Boxing Commission's unified rules. In short, that means No 3 Knockdown Rule, and that nobody but the ref can stop the fight. If one of 'em is cut by an accidental headbutt after Round 4, they'll go to the scorecards. If one of them gets caught with a lights out punch after the bell rings, that's it, 'cause here, the bell won't save them in any round; not the first, not the 6th, not even the very last one. If you would, Goldie." They listened to the team discuss what Applejack brought up in the EBO special, the graphics fading away to reveal a grand boxing venue packed to the rafters, big screens facing each side of the audience. In the front row on the right was Granny Smith, Braeburn, and the entire Apple clan-minus the empty seats reserved for Apple Bloom and Big McIntosh. Opposing them in the front row on the left-minus the seats reserved for Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Spike, was Twilight’s Parents, Shining Armor, Princess Cadence, The Cakes, Derpy, Vinyl Scratch and Octavia, all of them people Twilight has met over the course of her training, and all of them here to see her through. The camera soon focused on Applejack and her trainers going through last minute preparations in their dressing room
***
"If you could reiterate the plan for me, darling." said Rarity, dressed in her white and azure trim hoodie and sweats. Applejack, in her red, Sweet Apple Acre branded boxing robes, shadow boxed as she answered her request.
"Make her bring the fight in close, create openings for power punches, and test her chin every chance I get?"
"Precisely" Fluttershy, in her oversized cream yellow shirt with pale pink sweats, massaged Appplejack's shoulders.
"You put a lot of energy into your style of boxing, so use your defense to make her expend hers and make every blow count. Those people you train with know you have the power to end it, and so does your family. I bet even your sister thinks you can do this, if you fight smart." From under her hood, Applejack shed a tear, smiling as she said, "C'mon, guys, let's head to our corner." As they walked towards through the halls, the theme they chose echoed throughout the arena, the crowd rhythmically cheering "Applejack!" as the song entered full swing, and Applejack removed her hood. "Just you wait, Apple Bloom," thought Applejack as she waved to her adoring public and her family. "I'm gonna make you proud and show you how amazing Boxing can be! I don't care what I gotta do to make it happen, I will reveal the essence of the sweet science, and I will show you how the Apple clan handles a fight to the finish!"
***
Twilight, covered by her Team Twily boxing robe, made their way towards the ring with her trainers, Twilight noting the mic in Pinkie's hand. "So Pinkie is serious about doing my intro song live, Dash?"
"She wasn't spending our week off laying around, I'll tell you that much. When she met up with Vinyl, they instantly clicked, and, if I remember correctly, pumped the song out in a matter of hours. I think you'll like it, but seriously, Pinkie, why live?"
"Because we're the opening act, and our role is to give these fine folks their money's worth! Besides, everyone here is so tense, and needs something to get loose. What better way to do that than through song?"
"Yeah, what better way to incite the traditionalists that already wanna see Twi's head knocked clean off her shoulders?"
"C'mon, Dash," said Twilight, as they got closer to the entrance. "She's just having some fun with this. We already know what's on the line, and I already know what I need to do. I need to keep Applejack on the outside, force her into wasting every bit of gas in her tank, and make her fight as sloppy as possible, so I can fill her openings with power shots." The song Pinkie was performing came on over the sound system, Pinkie getting herself ready for action. "Looks like it's time to get busy, right, Dash?" Twilight stepped into the arena to the roar of the crowd, some saying, "You can do it, Twily!" others screaming, "I hope Applejack makes you taste the canvas, you disrespectful bum!" while Pinkie performed without a hitch, and they entered the ring
***
The ring announcer, Mighty Heart, popped on camera, and said "This night of boxing is brought to you by Palomino's Top Tier Promotions in association with Everfree Vodka, Solaria Communications, the new movie, DragonHeart, and our host, The Collesseum at Luna's Palace. At ring side, our judges, Crimson Swirl, Warding Spring and Onyx Pearl. Tonight's referree is Zathura." Mighty Heart gestured to his left. "In the Red corner, hailing from Sweet Apple Acres in the Red trunks, Applejack!" Applejack smiled for the camera, and showed a quick 1-2. "In the Blue corner, from the library in Ponyville in the Indigo and pink trunks, Twilight Sparkle!" Twilight shed her robe, and clapped her gloves together, staring dead at Applejack. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, from The Colosseum, at Luna's Palace in Las Pegasus, the time has come for tonight's opening bout, it's time for Applejack Vs. Twilight Sparkle!" They met at the center of the ring. Zathura, in her blue button up and black khakis, looked at them and issued her commands.
"10 rounds. Touch gloves, nothing below the belt, obey my commands, let's box." They walked to their corners, never breaking eye contact until the salt and pepper haired Zathura said, "Alright, ring the bell, and start this thing!" They returned to the center, touched gloves, and immediately started to let their punches fly.
"This is it, Goldie, the cannon tries to nail the mosquito, with both of them trying to prove themselves in the first fight of their lives. Make it count, guys!" Applejack shot a jab upstairs. Twilight blocked, sending two to the body as she circled her target. Twilight pestered her with jabs, going upstairs and down stairs, high and low, head to gut until Applejack got sick of it and rushed in. She rushed right into Twilight's brick stiff straight towards the eye, much to the crowd's approval. "Is that blood I'm seeing?" Asked Gold Mike.
"Correct, Goldie. It's only a trickle, but that straight opened something above Applejack's right eye, a fair price to pay for being impatient."
"If I'm not mistaken, though, Applejack's got quite a chin on her, at least enough to manage that kind of knock"
"Even the toughest of rocks break if their struck hard enough precisely enough and often enough. If she wants to keep that trickle a trickle, she needs to make Twilight play her game and stop brushing off those mosquito bites" Applejack continued to rush in, swaying away from a uppercut and weaving into two lightening quick body hooks. Twilight parried the follow up straight into a whipping jab to the face. Applejack sniffed out the body blow and backed away, backing into the corner and waiting for Twilight to catch up. As soon as she sensed Twilight get close, Applejack pivoted out of the corner and tried to trap her there with a furious flurry.
"Smart stuff from Applejack." Noted Hoshikawa. "Now Twilight has to deal with the kind of boxing Applejack likes: in close, with little room for the opponent to run from the dynamite she has in both hands" Twilight immediately went for a clinch, stopping Applejack's building head of steam until the ref split them up. Twilight ducked the incoming hook, responding with 3 hard uppercuts to the gut. "Looks like I gotta fight a might smarter this time" Applejack thought while she kept blocking Twilight's blitz. "Wonder if that counter I learned from Fluttershy still works against her?"
Twilight charged into an overhead hook. Applejack swayed back and charged into an arrow straight jab. It drilled right into Twilight's forehead, and knocked heright on her butt. Twilight sprung right to her feet before Zathura could count to 4, suddenly defending herself from a barrage of quick jabs. Applejack started backpedaling, but her jabs kept Twilight from getting any closer, the slap of the 10 second warning going off. "That didn't look like a very hard jab, partner." said Gold Mike
"No it didn't, but it was hard enough to score the knock down-and likely the round for Applejack, if the judges have their eyes on the action. Hopefully Twilight brings something fierce to make up for that clowning Applejack just laid on her" The bell rung, and the cameras went to each fighter's corner.
***
"Alright, let's get that nick taken care off" Said Fluttershy as she worked on the cut.
"She may have made you bleed, but you made her fall, a far more important development." Rarity told her fighter, giving her water and a spit bucket. "Just keep up the pressure and keep her guessing wrong. "As long as you play it smart, we'll be celebrating on the strip in no time, alright? No more slip ups!"
***
"Wow, Twi, really?" Rainbow Dash asked, offering water and a spit bucket. "I know Applejack's strong, and all, but a jab shouldn't have lead to a knockdown. Gotta say, though, your defense is overall doing well, and you're getting plenty of shots. Now it's time to land those shots where it counts."
"Look at the bright side:" said Pinkie Pie "you got out of the way of a ton of Applejack's hard shots. All you gotta do now is stay out of the way and make sure you make openings for your big time blows! Got it? These folks need to you at your best!" The bell rung, and the two boxers returned to the center, touching gloves and kicking off Round 2